Ice tray



F. P. KEIPER ICE TRAY Sept. 19, 1939.

Filed Feb. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l HIS ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 19, 1939. F. P. @999 2,173,807 9 ICE TRAY Filed Feb. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :I 26 {fa ""T' I: INVENTOR. I 27 I 1'. EMA/w: 7. X50952.

Z 5 WMMDa-af m: ATTORNEYS,

Sept. 19, 1939. p. KElPER 2,173,807

ICE TRAY Filed Feb. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FIPA/Vc/s I K BY W M. and 52A.

ATTORNEYS the provision of Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES we may Francis P. Keiper, Washington, D. 0., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application February-17, 1938, Serial No. 191,049

13 Claims. This invention relates to freezing devices for refrigerating apparatuses and particularly to a device for freezing liquids into ice cubes or blocks.

Heretofore, others have provided liquid freezing devices including an ice tray and a grid therefor which divides the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments and wherein the grid is of rigid metal wall construction with certain walls thereof movable independently of and relative to another wall or walls to release ice blocks from the grid structure. In such grid structures it has been the practice to arrange the transverse walls so that they are normally inclined, to provide ice block compartments of a parallelogram shape in cross section, and are. movable out of their inclined position into a substantially vertical position to cause enlargement of the ice block compartments and release of iceblocks from the compartments. Since these prior'grid structures have not been entirely satisfactory, for various reasons, and since the locating of the movable transverse walls thereof normally in an inclined position is not the sole manner of arranging these walls to provide ice block compartments of parallelogram form in cross section; I, therefore, contemplate an improved grid construction of the type above described.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved rigid movable grid wall structure adapted to be disposed in an ice tray for dividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compart- I ments and a novel method of removing the grid from the tray and ice blocks from the grid structure without applying heat thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ice tray with a removable, single thickness,

'rigid, metal walled, unitary grid structure which structure has all the walls thereof disposed in a vertical position with the transverse walls thereof normally extending at an angle to the end walls of the tray and diagonally across the longitudinal wall of the grid to form ice block compartments of parallelogram form in cross section and in which structure these transverse walls are movable out of their angled position to enlarge the ice block compartments and break ice blocks therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a grid structure. constructed entirely of metal allel rigidtransverse walls so that they extend substantially diagonally across a tray adapted to receive the grid and are mounted for movement out ofsaid angled or oblique position whereby the ice compartments are enlarged, and the bond between the ice blocks and the' grid walls is broken to cause release of the ice blocks from the rid.

A still further object or-my invention is to utilize a means which is employed to move the diagonally extending transverse rigid walls of a grid structure of the type described relative to other walls of the grid to also elevate the grid and ice bonded thereto relative to the tray.

It is a still further and more specific object of the invention to provide a grid structure of the type described in the preceding objects which has a means engaging the transverse walls near the outer extremity thereof for imparting force thereto at a point remote from the longitudinal wall to facilitate movement of the laterally extending walls relative to the longitudinal wall.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the. present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a freezing device including 'a tray and a grid constructed in accordance with the present invention disposed within the tray;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1 showing the tray in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the freezing device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line |4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the grid and ice blocks bonded thereto elevated relative to the tray;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the grid removed from the tray and disclosing certain walls of the grid moved relative to other walls thereof to' illustrate the release .of ice blocks from the grid walls;

'Fig. 7 is a side view of the grid taken in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken on the lined-8 of Fig. 1 and showing the interlocking arrangement of the transverse walls with the longitudinal wall of the grid.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I have disclosed my improved liquid freezing device as including a metal ice tray I0 having side walls H (see Fig. 3), a bottom wall l2 and opposed end walls l3 and M. The tray side walls II and the front wall l3 thereof converge outwardly toward the top of the tray. The tray back wall I4 is converged outwardly toward the top of the tray a greater distance than other walls thereof for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. The walls I3 and M of tray ill have theirupper portion rolledover as at l5 to provide a rim which extends continuously around the top of the tray to increase its structural strength. A portion of the metal of tray I0 is extended downwardly from the rim l5, as at l6 (see Fig. 2), at the front of the tray and provides a mounting for a heavy metal piece H which has a handle |8 pivotally secured thereto as at IS. The handle l8 facilitates placing of the freezing device in or on a freezing support or sheft of an evaporator of a refrigerating system and a cam surface 20 formed thereon functions, upon actuating the handle, to break an ice bond between the tray and its support to permit removal of the freezing device and its frozen contents from the evaporator in the well-known manner.

The tray H) has in combination therewith a unitary metal grid structure and this grid, generally represented by the reference character 2|, is removably disposed within the tray. The grid 2| includes ,a single thickness substantially nonflexible or rigid longitudinal metal wall 22 and a plurality of single thickness substantially nonfiexible or rigid metal walls 23 extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to divide the interior of tray l0 into rows of open-top cells or compartments 24. It will be noted that walls 22 and 23 of grid 2| are all-vertically disposed and that the walls 23 normally extend laterally from wall 22 at an angle other than a right angle relative to wall 22 or extend across grid wall 22 and at an acute angle relative to the transverse extension of the tray end walls l3 and I4. Thus, the compartments 24 formed in tray III by the grid walls 22 and 23 are of a parallelogram form as will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. The longitudinal grid wall member 22 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed elongated openings 26 each of which receive a web portion 21 of walls 23 (see Fig. 8). Each of the transverse walls 23 is provided with a slot 28 extending upwardly from its-bottom edge and which receive a web portion 29 of longitudinal wall 22 (see Fig. 4). In order to permit the interlocking assembly of walls 23 with wall 22 a .web portion 3|, located above each elongated opening 26 in wall 22, is slit as at 32 and bent outwardly away from wall 22. After the transverse walls have been assembled in the openings/26 of wall 22, the web portion 3| is bent back into alignment with wall 22 and the slit 32 is soldered or otherwise closed to lock wall members 23 upon wall 22. The fit of webs 21 within openings 26 and of webs 29 within slots 28 is loose to permit a pivotal movement of wall members 23 relative to wall member 22 about the interlocking connecting points thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The spaced apart transverse grid walls 23 are connected together near their outer extremity and remote from wall 22 for movement relative to grid wall member 22 through the medium of a pair of rods 35. Each rod 35 extends along the top of the grid structure 2| and the rods 35 are provided with a plurality of spaced apart undercut portions 36. The undercut portions 36 of rods 35 are received in holes 31 (see Fig. 4) provided near the outer extremity of transverse grid walls 23. In order to permit assembly of rods 35 to the transverse grid walls these walls 23 are slit as at 38 to extend the slit from the wall of hole 31 to the top edge of wall 23. The web portions of walls 23 above holes 31 adjacent slit 38 are bent out to provide an opening through which the undercut portions 36 of rod 35 may pass and thereby be received in holes 31. After therod 35 has been assembled to the transverse walls 23 the web portions thereof adjacent the slits 38 are bent back into alignment therewith and the slits 38 are soldered or otherwise closed to lock the rods 35 to the grid structure 2 Thus the cross walls 23 are connected together for movement with one another by fitting between the shoulders formed on rods 35 by the under- I cut portions 36 thereof. The rods 35 are provided with an undercut portion 4|, similar to the portions 38, at one end thereof (see Figs. 1

and 3) for the purpose of receiving a slot 42 provided in an operating member, generally represented by the reference character 43. This member 43 includes a handle portion 44 which lies along the top edge of longitudinal grid wall 22 and'an integral finger end 45 having a camming surface 46 provided thereon. Member 43 also includes integral outwardly extending legs 41 provided with depending portions 48 having the slots 42 cut therein. This operating member 43 is preferably assembled to.the grid 2| in a manner to form a part of the unitary structure thereof. A double walled plate 5| having its top portion formed into a head 52 provided with a neck 53 straddles longitudinal grid wall 22 and is secured thereto by rivets 54. An opening 56 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is provided in member 43, and this opening permits assembly of the operating member 43 to the grid structure 2|. By providing the opening 56 in member 43, this member can be tilted and placed over the head portion 52 of plate 5| so as to cause the wall of opening 56 to surround neck 53 on plate 5|. The slots 42 in the depending portion 48 of legs 41 of member 43 are brought into registration with the undercut portions 4| at the corresponding ends of rods 35 simultaneously with placing of member 43 over the head 52 of plate 5|. After the operating member 43 is assembled to the grid, as described, it forms a part of the unitary structure and serves as a lever for elevating the grid 2| relative to the tray l0 and for also moving the grid walls 23 in a manner to be presently described.

It is to be noted that the rods 35 normally maintain the vertical walls 23" of grid 2| in a position whereby they extend at an acute angle across the tray ||I transversely of and substantially diagonally to longitudinal grid wall 22. This normal acute angled disposition of the vertically disposed grid walls 23 relative to the longitudinal wall 22 provides the ice block compartments 24 with a parallelogram form or contour as will be seen by referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings. Due to the normal oblique angled extension of grid walls 23 across the interior of tray III to form the compartment shape described, movement of these walls 23 relative to grid wall 22 out of their normal angled exten-' sion into substantially a right angled or perpendicular position relative to wall 22 will change the form or contour of compartments 24 and this '16 change enlarges these commitments to break 'the ice blocks therein from the compartment walls and to cause release of the ice blocks from, the grid structure. This enlargement of the in the form of ice blocks in compartments 24,

by the cooling effect produced by the evaporator of a refrigerating system, and that tray ID has been removed from the evaporator by manipulating the handle 18 and it is now desired to harvest ice blocks from the freezing device. "The handle end 44 of operating member 43 "-is ele vated to cause the short end 45 of member 43 permits the grid structure 2| and ice blocks.

to engage rim l5 at the back of tray i0 and apply force thereto. The length of neck 53 on plate 5| permits this elevation of member 43 relative to plate 5|, and the length of slots 42 in the parts 48 of member 43 permits the legs 41 of member 43 to be raised relative to and without entirely disengaging from portions 4| on rods 35. The force applied to tray It) by member 43 causes the unitary grid structure 2| together with ice blocks bonded thereto to be elevated relative to the tray as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Breaking of the bond between the ice and the tray as shown in Fig. 5 thus therein to be removed from the grid and ice has been removed from the tray, the handle end 44 of operatingniember 43 is moved or rotated about neck 53 on plate 5| transversely of the gridstructure as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This transverse 'movement of member 43 causes the one leg 41 thereof to push on the one rod 35 while the other leg thereof pulls on the other rod to thereby rotate the vertically disposed transverse grid walls 23 relative to wall 22 out of their'acute angled position into' a position which is substantially at tray. After the right angles to grid wall 22. Since the rods 35 engage wall members 23 at a point remotefrom the longitudinal wall member 22 andnnear the outer extremity of the wall members 23, :the force imparted to walls 23 to move same is minimized. Movement of the transverse grid walls in the manner described thereby breaks the ice blocks loose from the grid walls while at thesame time enlarging the compartments 24 and causing release of the ice blocks therefrom The enlargement of the compartments 24 is caused by changing their shape from a parallelogram to substantially a rectangular form. In Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings, I have shown the ice blocks in a moved position within the ice compartments and it is to be understood that when these blocks are moved into the position shown they will freely fall from the grid structure.

. blocks have been removed from the grid structure, lever .or member 43 is moved back into itsnormal position or in alignment with the longitudinal grid wall 22 and this return movement thereof moves the transverse walls 2 3 back into their normal acute angled extension across the grid to form the parallelogram shaped ice compartments.

Therefore, there is provided an improved rigid -metallic grid structure for disposition in an ice tray, the walls of which structure are vertically disposed with certain walls extending substantially diagonally across a certain other wall grid and tray combinations.

After the ice.

- prising. a rigid metal longitudinal thereof-to-form ice compartments of parallelogram form or contour and when said certain walls are moved at right angles or perpendicularly to said other wall of the structure, the ice compartments are enlarged and ice blocks broken frdm the walls. The improved freezing device employs aminimum of wall parts or partitioninginembers for carrying out the objects of the invention to thereby simplify the construction of grid structures for the purpose herein specified. In my present disclosure a single I operating member is 'employedfor removing the grid from the tray and for also releasing ice blocks from the grid structure. By constructing the grid' entirelyof metal, I have thereby retained the fast freezing characteristics of metal I have, in the present invention, disclosed the formation of ice compartments of a parallelogram shape from vertically disposed grid walls to thus obviate the necessity of inclining the grid walls as has heretofore been the practice, Therefore, my i-mproved fconstruction eliminates scraping'oi movable walls against stationary grid walls which occurs in the priorstructures wherein the mov- I able walls are moved from an inclined position into a substantiallyvertical position to enlarge ice block compartments.

While theform of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, allcoming within the scope of the claims which"follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal upright wall and a plurality of'verticallydisposed walls projecting laterally from said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of ice block compartments, said laterally projecting vertically disposed walls normally extending at an angle other than a right angle to said upright longitudinal ice block compartments wall to provide said with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of crosssection,

said laterally projecting vertical walls being movable out of said normal angled extension to- 1 wards a "right angled position relative to said upright longitudinal wall to enlarge said ice block compartments, and means for imparting force to said laterally projecting vertical walls to cause said movement thereof.

' 2. A-grid for dispo'sition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinafupright wall and a plurality of vertically disposed-walls projecting laterally from saidlongitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the. length thereof to form a row ofice block compartments, said laterally projecting vertically disposed walls normally extending at an angle other than a right angle to said upright longitudinal wall to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram formin at least one direction of cross-section, said laterally projecting vertical walls being movable out of said normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said upright longitudinal wall to enlarge said'ice block compartments, and means engaging the outer extremity of said laterally projecting vertical walls for'imparting a force thereto at a point remotei'rom said longitudinal wall to cause said movement-thereof.

3. A grid for disposition in anice tray comupright wall and a; plurality of vertically disposed rigid metal walls projecting laterally from said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of ice block compartments, said laterally projecting vertical rigid walls normally extending at an angle other than a right aiagle to said upright longitudinal wall to provide sad ice block compartments with a parallelo gram form in at least one direction of crosssection, said laterally projecting rigid vertical walls being'movable relative tosaid rigid upright longitudinal wall to move same out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said upright longitudinal wall to enlarge said ice block. compartments, and means for imparting force to said laterally projecting vertical rigid walls to cause said movement thereof.

4. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a rigid metal longitudinal upright wall and a plurality of vertically disposed rigid metal walls projecting laterally from said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of ice block compartments, said laterally projecting vertical rigid walls normally extending at an angle other than a right angle to said upright longitudinal wall to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross-section, said laterally projecting rigid vertical walls being movable relative to said rigid upright longitudinal wall to move same out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said upright longitudinal wall to enlarge said ice block compartments, and means engaging the outer extremity of said laterally projecting vertical rigid walls for imparting a force thereto at a, point remote from said longitudinal-wall to cause said movement thereof.

' 5. A metallic grid structure for disposition in a freezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a substantially non-flexible longitudinal wall member and a plurality of separate substantially non-flexible transverse wall members arranged in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal wall member to form a row of ice block compartments on each side thereof, said transverse wall members extending from one side of said grid structure to the other through the plane of said longitudinal wall member and being interlocked therewith, the transverse wall members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross 'sestion, said interlocking connection between said wall members of said grid structure permitting move: ment of said transverse wall members out of said diagonal extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member,

.and mechanism for imparting such relative movement to said wall members.

6. A metallic grid structure for disposition in a vfreezing tray and removable therefrom as a unit, said grid structure comprising a substantially non-flexible longitudinal wall member and a plurality of separate substantially non-flexible transverse wall members arranged in spaced apart relation along the length of said longitudinal wall member to form a row of ice block compartments on each side thereof, said trans- Verse wallmembers extending from one side of said grid structure to the other through the plane of said longitudinal wall member and being interlocked therewith, the transverse .wall

members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross section, said interlocking connection between said wall members of said grid structure permitting movement of said transverse wall members out of said diagonal extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member, and mechanism having a part thereof engaging the outer extremity of said transverse wall members for imparting a force thereto at a point remote from said longitudinal wall member to cause such relative movement of said wall members. I

'7. In combination, a tray having a unitary metallic grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a rigid member extending longitudinally of the tray and a plu rality of rigid vertically disposed Wall membersloosely held in spaced relation along said longitudinal wall member and projecting thereacross to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality of rows of ice block compartments, said vertical wall members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross-section therethrough, means for elevating said unitary grid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said diagonally extending vertical grid wall members relative to said longitudinal wall member out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member to enlarge said compartment and release ice blocks therefrom.

8. In combination, a tray having a unitary metallic grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a rigid wall memberextending longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of rigid vertically disposed wall members loosely held in spaced relation along said longitudinal wall member and projecting thereacross to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality-ofrows of ice block compartments, said vertical wall members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross-section therethrough, and means movable in one direction of motion for elevating said unitary grid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto relative to the tray and movable in another direction of motion for causing movement of said diagonally extending vertical grid wall members relative to said longitudinal wall member out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member to enlarge said compartments and break ice blocks therefrom.

9. In combination, a tray having a unitary metallic grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a rigid wall member extending longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of rigid vertically disposed wall members loosely held in spaced relation along said longitudinal wall member and projecting thereacross to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality of rows of ice block compartments, said vertical wall members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross-section therethrough, and means carried by said grid structure and movable upwardly thereof for elevating the grid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto relative to the tray and movable in a direction transversely of said grid structure for causing movement of said diagonally extending vertical grid wall members relative to said longitudinal wall member out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member to enlarge said compartments and break ice blocks therefrom.

10. In combination, a tray having a unitary metallic grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structure comprising a rigid wall member extending longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of rigid vertically disposed wall members loosely held in spaced relation along said longitudinal wall member and projecting thereacross to divide the interior of the tray into a plurality of rows of ice block compartments, said vertical wall members normally extending substantially diagonally across said longitudinal wall member to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross-section therethrough, and a single lever movable in one direction for elevating said unitary grid structure and ice bonded thereto relative to the tray and movable in another direction for causing a force to be imparted to said diagonally extending vertical grid wall members to move same relative to said longitudinal wall member out of their normal angled extension towards a right angled position relative to said longitudinal wall member for enlarging said compartments and releasing ice blocks therefrom 11. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall and a plurality of substantially non-flexible walls extending transversely of said longitudinal wall in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form rows of ice block compartments, said walls being connected together to provide a unitary removable grid structure, said transverse walls being normally disposed at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal wall and cooperating therewith to provide said ice block compartments with a parallelogram form in at least one direction of cross section therethrough, said transverse walls being movable out of said normal acute angled disposition thereof to break the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls and to enlarge said compartments for liberating ice blocks therefrom, and mechanism including a lever movable in a direction transversely of the grid structure for imparting force to said transverse walls to cause said movement thereof.

12. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, asubstantially non-flexible metal longitudinal wall member and a plurality of substantially non-flexible metal wall members extending transversely of said longitudinal wall member in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to form a row of ice block compartments on each side of said longitudinal wall member, said transverse wall members extending from one side to the other side of said grid through the plane of said longitudinal wall member and being movably mounted thereon to provide a unitary removable structure, and mechanism having a part thereof extending along the length of said grid" structure and engaging each of said plurality of transverse wall members at a point remote from said longitudinal wall member and near their transverse extremity for imparting a force thereto to cause movement thereof relative to said longitudinal wall member about their mounting thereon.

13. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall and a plurality of spaced apart walls extending laterally therefrom to form a row of ice block compartments, said laterally extending walls being secured to said longitudinal wall to provide a unitary removable structure, said laterally extending walls being movable relative to the longitudinal wall, andmechanism having a part thereof extending along the length of said grid structure and engaging each of said plurality of laterally extending walls at a point remote from said longitudinal wall and near their lateral extremity for imparting force thereto to cause said relative movement.

FRANCIS P. KEIPER. 

